Men's Volleyball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- Nick.MacRae@csulb.edu
- Phone:
- 985-1450
Nick MacRae has been a part of the Long Beach State men’s volleyball coaching staff for the last 12 seasons, and in 2018, was promoted to associate head coach. MacRae is also the recruiting coordinator for the Beach.
He was named National Collegiate Assistant Coach of the Year by the AVCA for the second time in 2024. MacRae is in his 13th season at Long Beach State and has been an integral part of the program's success. In his time at the Beach, he has helped guide LBSU to six NCAA Final Four appearances and two National Titles. He has also mentored 35 All-Americans, including three National Players of the Year, as well as 47 All-Conference selections.
In 2024, MacRae, who works primarily with the setters and the offense, guided Long Beach State to a .346 attack percentage, which ranked second in the Big West and fifth in the nation. Under MacRae's tutelage, setter Aidan Knipe was named second-team AVCA All-American after dishing out 10.23 assists per set to rank seventh in the country.
Over the course of his Long Beach State career, MacRae has done an excellent job developing some of the nation's best setters such as four-time AVCA All-American and 2018 AVCA National Player of the Year Josh Tuaniga, and AVCA All-American Honorable Mention selection Carlos Rivera.
In his career, he has brought in two No. 1 recruiting classes, and six Top 5 recruiting classes.
MacRae was instrumental in helping Long Beach State capture its second-straight NCAA National Championship in 2019. With MacRae on the bench, the Beach went 28-2 and notched the program’s first-ever undefeated conference season with a 10-0 record. LBSU turned in another perfect record at home extending the team’s home winning streak to a program-record 43-straight victories at the Walter Pyramid.
The 2019 season saw the Beach win the Big West Regular Season Championship in a five-set win over No. 1 Hawaii before boasting four AVCA All-Americans, including AVCA National Player of the Year TJ DeFalco. Under MacRae’s tutelage, Long Beach State also garnered five Big West All-Conference selections, highlighted by Kyle Ensing’s Player of the Year honor.
MacRae was named the head coach of the 2020-21 Boys Youth National Team. He previously served as the 2018-19 USA Youth National Team assistant coach.
The 2018 AVCA Assistant Coach of the Year was a key component in helping the Beach capture the program’s second National Championship in a historic season that saw the team win a program-record 24 consecutive contests. With MacRae’s guidance, Long Beach State went 28-1 and rolled through conference action claiming the Big West Regular Season and Conference Tournament Championships.
MacRae played an essential role in Long Beach State’s success as the Beach made their third-straight NCAA appearance in 2018. He helped lead the Beach to a 9-1 Big West Conference mark and a perfect 12-0 record inside the Walter Pyramid. LBSU finished the season as National Champions and saw five players earn All-America honors, while junior setter Josh Tuaniga took home the AVCA National Player of the Year award.
In 2017, MacRae was recognized for his hard work and dedication as he earned the AVCA Thirty Under 30 Award which honors up-and-coming coaching talent at all levels of the sport.
In addition, MacRae owns a long list of volleyball experience as he has served as the 2018 head coach of the USA Youth-A1 Program at the High Performance Championships, and worked as an assistant coach for the 2018-19 USA Youth National Team that took home a Silver Medal at NORCECA en route to qualifying for the 2019 World Championships. MacRae has spent the last two years working as an AVCA Mentor Coach tutoring other AVCA members and coaches.
In 2014 and 2015, MacRae worked as a coach for the USA High Performance Championships. He also coaches at various USA High Performance camps. Lastly, MacRae served as the technical coordinator for the USA Men's Pan American Team and helped the U.S. claim a Gold Medal in the Dominican Republic in 2012, while the squad placed fifth at the 2013 Pan Am Games in Mexico City.
A pillar in the Long Beach community, in which he was born and raised, MacRae gives back by conducting free volleyball camps across the city. As co-owner of Pinnacle Athletic Club, MacRae's club provides volleyball training and teams for boys and girls ages 10-18.
MacRae is a 2007 graduate of Long Beach Wilson High School. He earned a degree in business finance from Long Beach State University in 2021. MacRae played collegiate volleyball at Long Beach City College and Long Beach State.
MacRae resides in Long Beach, where he was born and raised, with his wife Ashley, daughter, Reese, and son, Nyles.
MACRAE AT THE BEACH
7 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES
2024-NCAA Finalists (Associate Head Coach)
2023-NCAA Semifinalists (Associate Head Coach)
2022-NCAA Finalists (Associate Head Coach)
2019-NCAA Champions (Associate Head Coach)
2018-NCAA Champions (Associate Head Coach)
2017-NCAA Semi-Finalists (Assistant Coach)
2016-NCAA Semi-Finalists (Assistant Coach)
MACRAE COACHING HIGHLIGHTS AT THE BEACH
2022, 2024 NCAA Finalist
2019 NCAA Title
2018 NCAA Title
2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 NCAA Final Fours
2018, 2024 AVCA National Assistant Coach of the Year
2017 AVCA 30 under 30 coach award
2 Big West Tournament Championships
1 MPSF Tournament Championship
4 Big West Tournament Appearances
6 MPSF Tournament Appearances
42 All-America Selections
38 All-Big West Selections
3 Big West Players of the Year (2019 Kyle Ensing, 2018 TJ Defalco, 2022 Alex Nikolov)
3 Big West Freshman of the Year (2021 Clarke Godbold, 2020 Mason Briggs, 2022 Alex Nikolov)
17 All-MPSF Selections
3 NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Alex Nikolov – 2022 AVCA National Player of the Year
TJ DeFalco - 2019 AVCA National Player of the Year
Josh Tuaniga – 2018 AVCA National Player of the Year
Josh Tuaniga and TJ DeFalco – 2018 VolleyballMag.com Co-Players of the Year
TJ DeFalco – 2017 AVCA National Player of the Year
MACRAE AS RECRUITING COORDINATOR AT THE BEACH
2022: #3 ranked recruiting class per Volleyball Magazine & AVCA
2021: #1 ranked recruiting class per Volleyball Magazine & AVCA
2020: #1 ranked recruiting class per Volleyball Magazine & AVCA
2019: #3 ranked recruiting class per Volleyball Magazine & AVCA
2017: #5 ranked recruiting class per Volleyball Magazine & AVCA
MACRAE'S USA EXPERIENCE
2023-24
-Head Coach, U20 USA National Team Development Program
2022-23
-Head Coach, U17 USA National Team Development Program
2021-22
-Head Coach, U21 USA Junior National Team
-Head Coach, U19 & U20 USA National Team Development Program
2020-21
-Head Coach, USA U19 Youth National Team
-Head Coach, USA A1 High Performance
2019-2020
-Assistant Coach, USA U19 Youth National Team (silver medal NORCECA in Costa Rica)
-Head Coach, USA High Performance
2016-2019
Head Coach, USA A1 High Performance
2014-2015
Assistant Coach, USA A1 High Performance
2013
Technical Coordinator, USA PanAmerican Team
2012
Technical Coordinator, USA PanAmerican Team (gold medal PanAm cup in Dominican Republic)
| Season | School | Overall | Conference | Postseason |
| 2013 | Long Beach State | 24-8 | 18-6 (T2nd) | MPSF Finals |
| 2014 | Long Beach State | 18-10 | 15-9 (T5th) | MPSF Quarterfinals |
| 2015 | Long Beach State | 15-13 | 11-11 (7th) | MPSF Quarterfinals |
| 2016 | Long Beach State | 25-8 | 17-5 (T2nd) | NCAA Semifinals MPSF Semifinals |
| 2017 | Long Beach State | 27-4 | 16-2 (T1st) | NCAA Semifinals MPSF Champions |
| 2018 | Long Beach State | 28-1 | 9-1 (1st) | NCAA Champions Big West Champions |
| 2019 | Long Beach State | 28-2 | 10-0 (1st) | NCAA Champions |
| 2020 | Long Beach State | 10-1 | N/A | Abbreviated season due to COVID-19 |
| 2021 | Long Beach State | 7-5 | 6-4 (3rd) | Big West Semifinals |
| 2022 | Long Beach State | 21-6 | 8-2 (1st) | Big West Finals NCAA Finalists |
| 2023 | Long Beach State | 21-5 | 9-1 (T1st) | Big West Semifinals NCAA Semifinalists |
| 2024 | Long Beach State | 27-3 | 9-1 (1st) | Big West Champions NCAA Finalists |
| TOTAL (12 Seasons) |
251-66 (.792) | 128-42 (.753) |
